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Robert Christgau and Danyel Smith

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from: Robert Christgau

The Rules of Engagement

Posted Wednesday, June 23, 1999, at 5:06 PM ET

Dear Birthday Girl,

Unfortunately, there's one big problem with your Student Council-vs.-cool-people analogy, which is that the proms the Student Council veterans arrange actually affect people's lives. Giuliani's welfare policy is far worse than Clinton's cruel capitulation in 1996, which was enough to make me vote for the unlovely Ralph Nader, and like Clinton's capitulation, only at an even worse level, it causes unnecessary suffering and death. As mere voters, we're all powerless because there are so many of us; you and I are less powerless than most simply because we're journalists. If we joined the Student Council (and don't be so sure they'd let us in), we'd be more powerful still, but not powerful enough. Bill Clinton himself isn't powerful enough to effect genuine structural changes, even the few tiny ones he's somewhat committed to, as the gays-in-the-military battle made clear almost immediately. So, then the problem for each of us--and I mean us, as opposed to the Student Council types with the Op-Ed space--is to figure out some way to remain engaged without acceding to too many lies. Giving up is immoral; buying in is immoral; forgetting how lucky you are to get to ponder such matters is immoral. There are no answers, only that includes: "There are no answers."

Another problem: Being ponderous is immoral, too.

I thought the Post/Daily News Hillary-Rudy stuff was surprisingly anti-Rudy. I figured the Post especially would find some way of blaming Hillary for Rudy's refusal of city space to a magazine with Hillary on the cover, although I can't say the Talk launch party inspires my deepest sympathies. I don't like Hillary all that much, but I don't like Moynihan much either, and as Senators go he's been OK. I can't think of a Democrat (or many Republicans) I wouldn't support against Giuliani. Even Ed Koch, who I'm proud to say I didn't support for Congress in 1966 because his anti-riffraff rhetoric was already starting to smell.

If I were a real sport obsessive I would read the Post and the News, not the Times. The Post surprised me by giving Larry Johnson very positive ink. The Post's black sportswriter did complain about the "political" implications of the slave metaphor, though, as did the News's female sportswriter. Good--let 'em stew. Go, LJ. Akbar Allah. Never forget.

Many happy returns of the day,
Bob

the breakfast table
entries
123456789101112131415
from: Robert Christgau

The Rules of Engagement

Posted Wednesday, June 23, 1999, at 5:06 PM ET
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Robert Christgau is a senior editor and chief music critic of the Village Voice. His essay collection, Grown Up All Wrong (click here to buy the book), was published in 1998. Danyel Smith is the editor in chief of Vibe.
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